With the WNBA already investigating allegations of racism against Angel Reese critics, another controversy has marred the league’s opening week: The Chicago Sky’s decision to leave the court during Saturday’s national anthem.
Caitlin Clark‘s Indiana Fever were hosting the Sky in Indianapolis, where many attendees, including Barstool’s Dave Portnoy, noticed Chicago’s conspicuous absence during The Star-Spangled Banner. According to various online reports, Reese & Co. had been involved in their pre-game shootaround only moments earlier.
‘Chicago Sky didn’t come out for the anthem?’ Portnoy wrote on X. ‘Weird.’
The reaction was immediate and unrelenting.
‘And they wonder why no one watches WNBA or why they dont (sic) get paid what nba players get paid,’ one critic wrote on Saturday. ‘too woke, bad basketball.’
By late Sunday, the uproar still hadn’t died down.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever stands for the National Anthem before Saturday’s opener
Angel Reese is seen on the court prior to Saturday’s season opener against the Fever
WNBA rules requires players to line up and stand ‘in a dignified posture’ during the anthem
‘The sky stayed in the locker room during the National anthem,’ another critic wrote before using a double negative. ‘No one has yet to bring it up.’
One critic went so far as to accuse the Sky of skipping the anthem due to ‘racism,’ describing the team as an ‘anti-White, anti-straight organization.’
Some came equipped with the WNBA rule book, which requires ‘players, coaches, and trainers’ to ‘stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem.’
‘What will be the punishment for the Sky leaving the court before the National Anthem?’ one such fan asked.
DailyMail.com has reached out to WNBA and Sky spokespeople for comment.
While the WNBA has a rule requiring players to stand for the anthem.
The WNBA launched a racism investigation a day after Angel Reese got into it with Caitlin Clark
That was hardly the only controversy from the Fever’s 93-58 blowout win over the rival Sky – a game that included Clark’s widely disputed flagrant foul on Reese, who was knocked to the floor on the play.
Reese appeared to curse at her fellow second-year WNBA star and attempted to confront Clark, who was visibly upset to be called for a flagrant.
Since then, Reese has allegedly been targeted with racist attacks, which the WNBA is now investigating.
‘The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms – they have no place in our league or in society,’ the league said in a statement. ‘We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.’
